News in Brief
Iran’s writer Yar-Ali Pourmoqaddam dies at 71
IRNA – Iran’s short story writer and playwright Yar-Ali Pourmoqaddam died at the age of 71 due to a stroke occurring during sleep.
Born in Masjed Soleyman in Khuzestan Province, he completed his primary education in his homeland.
He, later, came to Tehran and after finishing high school, went to University of Mazandaran and graduated in the field of economics.
He began his playwriting with ‘Sorrowful Esfandiyar’ which won the Playwright Award of the Festival of Tus in 1977.
Pourmoqaddam’s published works include ‘Shouka Café’s Surrounding,’ ‘Hegel’s Dissertation,’ and ‘A Horse’s Notes’ and ‘Unknown’.
Architect Rafael Viñoly, designer of Walkie Talkie building, dies
AFP – Rafael Viñoly, the Uruguayan-born and New York-based architect known for designing landmark buildings around the world, died aged 78.
Viñoly’s death was announced by his son, Roman, on the website of the family firm, Rafael Viñoly Architects.
“He was a visionary who will be missed by all those whose lives he touched through his work,” the statement said on Friday.
Viñoly’s sometimes controversial work included more than 600 structures around the world, including office and residential buildings, hotels, concert halls, stadiums and airports.
One of his better-known works is the Walkie Talkie building in London – an almost cartoonish skyscraper that is broader at the top than the bottom and looks like it is sagging.
Manchester City football club, for which Viñoly designed its training ground, City Football Academy, expressed its condolences on Twitter.